Addi Kamp

Identity Issues

2021-03-18T21:08:00.001-07:00

Identity

Through social media, entertainment, celebrities, etc., the world offers many suggestions on where we should place our identity:

-Men & women are told to pride themselves on their looks and achievements.

-One's followers/ career title are the things that are deemed as important.

-Celebrities with 'perfect' bodies and hair are idolized above everyone else.

-Movies glorify relationships and sex as being the ultimate source of joy.

-Women empowerment movements encourage you to put your identity in your strength/opinion.

Everyone struggles with placing their identity in the wrong things. I've struggled with placing my identity in my relationship status, my appearance, others' approval.. & so much more. But every time I've put my identity in these things, they've failed me and I'm once again reminded of who brings LASTING fulfillment.

I know who I am and it has nothing to do with what I look like, how much I've accomplished, or how others view me. I am a daughter of the King and I am a friend of Jesus. I am strong and I am lovely- that's not because of anything I've done, it's because I know where my identity belongs.

^^^Establishing my identity in these truths is much easier to do when I'm spending more time with the Lord and growing in relationship with Him.

world vs. truth

Even though I know where I should be placing my identity, the enemy will never give up on trying to convince me (&you) that our identity belongs somewhere else. So this is my attempt to challenge some of the things that the world tells us to place our identity in:

1. The world says that we should take pride in our appearance and achievements... We're made to believe self-confidence is an essential trait needed by people of all ages. But I disagree. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being confident, but there is a problem with putting your confidence in yourself. We are imperfect people & if our confidence is in ourselves, then it will eventually fail us.

I want to be a woman that seeks humility. I don't want to take pride in my own abilities or strength... because I'm only human (cue 'Human' by Christina Perri). Instead of having confidence in myself, I would much rather put my confidence in a God that never fails me.

2. We're told that our importance comes from our social media followers or our career title. The world often says that more is better (more followers. more money). However, although a large social media following/a huge job title may bring certain benefits, neither of these things make you more or less important. We are all loved by the Maker of the heavens and the earth. Every single one of us is important to Him.

I want to be a woman that puts Him above myself and my title (which is currently broke college student). No matter how important other people see me or don't see me as, that doesn't change my main goal/purpose.

3. The world has a lot to say right now about women-empowerment & this has caused many women to place their identity in the importance of their gender/strength/opinion.

We're being told that women need to make ourselves heard.. but often times, forcing our opinions or provoking division is required in order for that to happen. I want to be a woman that is gentle and open to reason. I don't want my opinions to be overlooked, but I also don't want to force them on someone just to make myself seem important.

On top of that, we're told that a woman should feel empowered by pointing out mens' flaws & the ways that women excel over men. I want to be a woman that acknowledges the strengths of both men & women. I want to be a woman that doesn't have to degrade men in order to boost my own ego.

Broken

The world is a broken place.

It will never tell us: be deeply rooted in Christ, boast in Christ alone, strive to be obedient to God's will, forgive easily, etc. It'll never tell us to place our identity in God.

Don't let social media tell you who you are. Don't let celebrities tell you who you are. Don't let the lies of the world tell you that you don't have worth.

Place your identity in the Creator of everything. He never fails. He sees your value. He accepts you just as you are.

Lots of love,

Addi Kamp

Last Day On Earth

2021-03-14T18:09:00.004-07:00

I don't know about you, but I have a list of things I want to do/accomplish/create before I die....

-road trip up the West Coast

-memorize more of God's Word

-hold a Koala

-host a consistent Bible Study

-go on a helicopter ride

-learn to surf

-own a home that everyone feels invited to

-etc. etc. etc.

I desire to do these things + so much more.. BUT! In actuality, I'm not doing much to get anything crossed off that list.. and if I am, there is no sense of urgency.

Life gets busy and our attention goes elsewhere. At least for me, I push those things off and wait for a "better day". I wait for a different phase of my life where I'll be more ready and capable. I wait because I want to look a different way first. I wait because I'm scared of failing. I wait.

But here's the thing, I could die tomorrow. This could be my last day on earth & it could very well be your last day, too. Sorry to get all dark, but it's only truth. We have no guarantee on living a super long life. This thought makes me feel challenged and restless... because if it is my last day on earth, what did I do to make today count? To make this year count? To make this life count? If you died tomorrow would you look back on your life and be happy with your accomplishments, actions, words, & legacy?

Now please don't get all sad thinking about dying, but instead feel motivated and hopeful..

Do those things that you keep making up excuses not do do. Tell your family how much you love them. Go on that missions trip. Invest in meaningful and important relationships. Let your creativity run wild. Do the thing you thought would be impossible. Explore. Face a fear.

It's so easy to get wrapped up in everyday chores and schedules that we forget to make life fun and exciting. It's possible to make an ordinary life feel extraordinary!!

Let me preach for a second:

If you're breathing and alive (which I'm guessing you are), then you have a purpose. There's a reason you're still on this earth- and I pray that you take advantage of the life you're given and live it abundantly.
^^ SIDE NOTE: living an abundant life doesn't mean becoming rich, becoming well known, or getting to ignore responsibilities... it means becoming content with what you've been blessed with & using what you have to serve God and love others. It's realizing that you already have all that you need.. and because of that you can be filled with joy no matter the circumstance.

You are not guaranteed tomorrow. So please don't wait around for a better day. Make today a better day.

If you feel lost/lonely/anxious, then seek Jesus. He is waiting for you to come back to Him.
If you're stuck in a cycle of comparison because you don't have a lot of followers on instagram or you don't look like someone else- so what?! If we're living for men/women's approval, then we'll NEVER be enough.

Please don't waste this beautiful life. You may not feel blessed right now, I've been there too.. but let me tell ya: every single breath is a blessing. The fact that we're loved by the maker of the world is a blessing (times a gazillion).

I challenge you to live your life with urgency. I challenge you to adventure & love the people around you & find contentment where you're at. Do the things on your bucket list. It could be your last day on earth.

Lots of love,
Addi Kamp

Discipline vs Desire

2021-03-14T16:54:00.005-07:00

One thing I’ve struggled with in my faith is getting stuck in the mindset that God doesn’t want me doing fun things. There’s a lot of rules and instructions in the Bible... & it gets super easy to get tricked into thinking that God gives those disciplines just because He can.

As a follower of Christ, I am born again. By the grace of God, my sins are washed away and I am not defined by them anymore. So why still follow the instructions that are given in the Bible? Why do I have to say no to things that won't cause harm?

I’ve come to realize is:

God doesn’t give any tasks of disciple that don’t either teach us or protect us from ourselves.

I realized this when I was reading Proverbs 6. Proverbs 6 is a passage where we’re warned not to fall into adultery. As Solomon is warning the reader of all the consequences that come with committing adultery, two verses stuck out to me:

“For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,

And the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

to preserve you.. etc. etc.” Proverbs 6:23-24

I had to look into what the word ‘reproofs’ meant in Hebrew and I sat thinking about the verse for a little bit.

My understanding was this:

the task/act of discipline is the way of life. NOT to make life boring, but to teach and protect us (followers of Christ).

Protecting Us From Ourselves

There are great prices to be paid for following the fleshly desires of our hearts. God knows that and He loves us too much to just watch us struggle. That’s why He gives instructions and that’s why He asks us to be disciplined. It’s out of love. Not control. Not ownership. Not pride.

It’s a Father trying to protect His children from things that they don’t understand will only end up hurting them.

Every decision we make produces an outcome. Hence, every sin produces a consequence. Even those "little sins" (ya know: road rage, acting prideful, telling a minor lie) have consequences. Sin can cause a feeling of separation between ourselves and the Lord.

Fortunately for us, Jesus already paid the punishment for our sins. Thank the Lord amiright.

But even though He paid the punishment for our eternal consequence, there is still an outcome from each choice we make on this earth (whether physically, mentally, or emotionally). When God gives us instructions and orders, it is to prevent us from falling into sin and feeling separated from Him.

When we do what God asks of us, we can have FULL joy. (1 John 1:4= These things we write to you that your joy may be full.) We can have unexplainable peace (Phillippians 4:7=And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus). We have a strong fellowship with God; the things that make Him happy make us happy & the things that make Him sad make us sad. We can be filled with the excitement of our salvation. When King David committed murder, He prayed 'Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with your generous Spirit'.

Recap

In my personal walk with God, I have developed an even deeper awe of Him and His love by realizing that He doesn’t want me to be disciplined just because He says.

He loves us so much that He doesn’t want to see us act on our own desires and then end up more hurt or unfulfilled in the end. He loves us enough to tell us what’s bad for us.

Lots of love,

Addi Kamp

I Made A Blog

2021-03-14T16:36:00.036-07:00

Hi, I made a blog:) again haha...

I had a blog during my junior year of high school and I loved writing on it & getting to connect with people through it. It's been on my heart to start it up again, so here we are.

I'll be writing about faith + life + whatever else I feel led to write about. So follow along if you want:)

Lots of love,

Addi Kamp